Page 76 of GAF Factor

I raised an eyebrow at his tone. He hadn’t spoken to me like that since we first met. It looked like our relationship was already being tested and the honeymoon phase was over. But I did as he asked and marched my ass over to the vehicle and got inside, slamming the door behind me. Jane was already waiting for me, her eyes wide as she stared straight ahead, trying desperately not to ask any questions.

The tension in the air as IKE and IRIS got into the vehicle was strung tighter than a bow. I saw the look they exchanged as they pulled up to the police station in town, almost as if they had a plan worked out ahead of time in case something went wrong. But what could possibly go wrong at a police station? Shawn wouldn’t dare attack me inside and neither would the Irish. We were safer here than anywhere else.

“Let’s make this quick,” IKE said, staring at me in the rearview mirror.

I hid my annoyance. I knew he was only trying to keep me safe, but Kavanaugh had done the same thing. At least IKE wasn’t telling me no. As soon as I walked through the doors of the police station, I was greeted with a smile and led back to a room where we could discuss the gruesome scene at the house.

“Just Ms. McKenna,” the chief said, holding up his hand to stop IKE.

My eyes widened as IKE stood taller, glaring down at the smaller man. “Either I go in there with her or we walk out right now. Your choice.”

The chief ground his jaw in frustration, then stepped aside and let IKE pass. I took a seat at the table, noting that IKE purposely didn’t take a seat, but instead wandered around the room.

“You know, this looks more like an interrogation than a friendly chat.”

“It was the only room available,” the chief said, smiling at me. “Now, you said you’re separated from your husband?”

“Yes.”

“As of when?”

“Um…” I wasn’t sure why that was relevant. Maybe they were establishing when he lost his mind. “In the summer. I filed for divorce and moved out.”

“And what happened?”

“He shredded the papers and sent them back,” I said bluntly, unsure if I should mention the bomb. I had no proof of what he had done.

“I take it Mr. Yates wasn’t okay with the divorce.”

“No.”

He nodded again, then looked up at me. “Isn’t it true that you claimed he put a bomb in your fridge?”

Okay, where did he hear about that? “Yes.”

“And that you suspected that he drove past your house and tried to gun you down?”

“Yes, but I never?—”

“This interview is over—” IKE cut in, grabbing my arm and hauling me out of my seat.

I tore my arm out of IKE’s grip, wanting to find out exactly what the chief was getting at. “Yes, I thought he was behind those attacks, but we could never prove it.”

“And because you couldn’t prove it, you took matters into your own hands and got your revenge.”

Reality slammed into me hard, and now I realized why IKE didn’t want me to come here. “You’ve got to be kidding me. You think I could hurt his parents?”

“He tried to kill you,” the chief said bluntly.

“That doesn’t mean I could ever be like him. Besides, you saw them. They were tortured! They were bound and—” I cut myself off, gagging when I remembered the stench upon finding them.

I bent over, breathing deeply as IKE yelled at the chief. Just the idea that I could even think of hurting them cut me deep.

“What the fuck were you thinking? You saw them! You know she didn’t do this!”

“She’s the best suspect we have right now.”

“Then I guess you’re fucked.”